All Things CLASS

I was wondering if you didn't pass your test on your first attempt was there anyone that could help with assisting you in your second attempt?

Hi anonymous, 

Most of the time, I rushed though the test, and that affected my performance. My recommendation is not to take the entire test all at once. Review the information in the "Tip and Reminders for reliability testing" document and take time to watch as many practice videos as possible before taking the test a second time. I know how stressful this experience can be, but I am confident that you can do it. 

Hello,

     If you are part of a Head Start program, consider asking your regional Education T/TA Specialist for support or to do side-by-side coding practice with you. Side-by-side coding practice while watching a video can be really helpful! Also, consider asking a peer who is certified for some tips that have helped them. I agree with Paula's tips as well. One more thing to consider is to ask to work from home on the day you take your test if that is allowable. My office is a cubical and in a shared space with several others, which is not a good environment for taking the test. So, I ask to work from home when I take the test.

Every year that I recertify, I review the practice videos and previous notes I took on them (I save all my practice booklets). Then I spend time with the Master Code Justifications (MCJ) book and review their justification language and scores as I compare my notes and scores. In my MCJ book, every Concept Development page is flagged so I can reference them quickly. 

This year I watched, noted, and scored a practice video that I titled "More Muffin" that showed a pre-k mealtime segment. I did not pass that test. However, I did highlight the correct scores in my booklet to see how far off I was in each dimension. I realized that I rushed through it, and didn't have the brainpower at the time to think clearly. 

Some tips I have are to take time to practice and familiarize yourself with each domain. Don't worry about keeping your notes in line with each dimension as you watch the videos. Take the test over the course of many days and don't try if you are short on time or brainpower. ALWAYS consider depth, frequency, and duration in the Instructional Support Domain. Watch Sarah and Mary Margaret Teachstone videos on YouTube. These helped me create the guidance cheat sheet that I use for quick reference during an observation and while scoring (attached). I always score the Instructional Support Domain first as it's the most difficult section for me to reason through.

Another tip you might consider when scoring is to score within the range of 2-6. Even if the correct score is a 1 or a 7, using a 2 or 6 will still put you within 1 standard deviation of the master code deeming you "reliable". Good Luck!

Attachment(s)

CLASS notes for HIGH range.xlsx   17 KB 1 version